E. Coli cases in Germany on the rise

Fresh vegetables are rapidly falling off the menu in Europe as more E. Coli cases are reported.

The number of people in Germany infected by a deadly strain of E.Coli has risen sharply. Most of the 1,500 people infected are from Germany with Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, also affected.

The death toll has risen to 17 from the strain of enterohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC), and its more deadly offshoot – haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS). 16 of the deaths have been in Germany.

The outbreak’s source is not yet known, which has highly pissed off the Spanish government, which says it is considering legal action against the Authorities in Hamburg, Germany who wrongly blamed Spanish cucumbers for the E. Coli outbreak.

Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said “We do not rule out taking action against the authorities who called into question the quality of our products.” Privately he probably putit in stronger terms.

Spain’s fruit and vegetable exporters estimate they have lost more than 200 million euros in sales since the outbreak emerged.

Germany has admitted the bacteria did not come from Spain as initially reported, but said the decision to issue the warning had been correct as a different strain of E.coli was present in Spanish cucumbers.

“Hundreds of tests have been done and the responsible agencies… have determined that most of the patients who have been sickened ate cucumbers, tomatoes and leaf lettuce and primarily in northern Germany,” German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said.

Health experts are monitoring the E. Coli outbreak closely as so far it is one of the most virulent in modern times.